長(chang)涇(jing)(jing)老(lao)街(jie)的(de)(de)出(chu)現,初始于明(ming)代(dai)咸化年間(1465—1487),由長(chang)涇(jing)(jing)大族夏氏從習禮村定居于涇(jing)(jing)里(li)(li),疏(shu)通東涇(jing)(jing)河、西涇(jing)(jing)河、并市(shi)河,逐(zhu)成(cheng)三涇(jing)(jing)為一水(shui)的(de)(de)涇(jing)(jing)水(shui)河,涇(jing)(jing)水(shui)南(nan)北兩岸逐(zhu)漸(jian)形成(cheng)街(jie)市(shi)。至明(ming)代(dai)萬(wan)歷年間(1573—1620),"規模大定,民益(yi)庶繁",成(cheng)為江陰東南(nan)一大市(shi)鎮。清(qing)康熙二年(1663),涇(jing)(jing)里(li)(li)定名為長(chang)涇(jing)(jing)鎮。
為了方便南北兩(liang)街之交通(tong),從明代建(jian)市鎮始(shi),夏希明先建(jian)興(xing)順(shun)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),其子夏良惠續(xu)建(jian)興(xing)福橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),后(hou)有鎮上賢(xian)達和政府陸續(xu)建(jian)有興(xing)壽橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)、興(xing)隆橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),興(xing)定橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(即原東木橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao))、大福橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(蠶(can)種場自用橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)現已拆去)等石拱(gong)橋(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao)(qiao),如道道垂虹臥波,分外壯觀。
長(chang)涇老街分為(wei)南北兩街,皆(jie)長(chang)度為(wei)1.5公(gong)里(li),統稱千(qian)米石(shi)板街。河(he)(he)南街從興(xing)福橋至陳大(da)同米行,延伸至牛腰壩;河(he)(he)北街從大(da)福蠶種(zhong)場至興(xing)壽橋(即(ji)現在的虹橋)。街道兩邊,商號林立,店鋪相望,皆(jie)為(wei)兩層(ceng)小(xiao)木樓,臨街人家(jia)大(da)多有地樓水(shui)榭,石(shi)階(jie)河(he)(he)埠(bu)頭(tou)(tou)通向涇水(shui)河(he)(he),而河(he)(he)邊公(gong)用(yong)(yong)河(he)(he)埠(bu)頭(tou)(tou),皆(jie)為(wei)元寶碼頭(tou)(tou),中間(jian)平臺,左(zuo)右石(shi)階(jie)河(he)(he)灘(tan),供汲水(shui)、洗滌(di)、裝卸貨物之(zhi)用(yong)(yong)。
老(lao)街(jie)(jie)的石(shi)(shi)板,都是山麻(ma)石(shi)(shi),大小(xiao)一(yi)式,規格(ge)統一(yi),每塊為(wei)(wei)1米長,40厘(li)米寬,20厘(li)米厚,每塊石(shi)(shi)板上(shang)都刻有(you)(you)標號(hao)。石(shi)(shi)板橫鋪南(nan)(nan)北(bei)向,旁有(you)(you)青磚為(wei)(wei)邊,下有(you)(you)雨水通道,雨后街(jie)(jie)凈,設(she)計極為(wei)(wei)科(ke)學合理。數(shu)千塊石(shi)(shi)塊,成(cheng)街(jie)(jie),成(cheng)景,成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)一(yi)個(ge)個(ge)歷史(shi)符號(hao),成(cheng)為(wei)(wei)一(yi)個(ge)個(ge)古代建筑印痕(hen)。南(nan)(nan)北(bei)老(lao)街(jie)(jie)聯通一(yi)條(tiao)條(tiao)小(xiao)巷小(xiao)弄(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong),有(you)(you)廟弄(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)清、曹家弄(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)、楊樹弄(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)、汪家弄(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)、后街(jie)(jie)、祥東弄(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)、南(nan)(nan)巷門、南(nan)(nan)街(jie)(jie)弄(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)等,每一(yi)條(tiao)弄(nong)(nong)(nong)(nong)堂,同樣鋪設(she)石(shi)(shi)板,下為(wei)(wei)雨水通道。
老(lao)街(jie)兩側,臨街(jie)為店(dian)面(mian),后為廳堂,往(wang)往(wang)每戶(hu)有三五(wu)進,天井中(zhong)種植花木(mu),客廳中(zhong)懸掛(gua)字畫,樓上臥(wo)室中(zhong)有琴瑟絲(si)竹之音(yin),有書卷翰墨丹青之香。現保存張(zhang)(zhang)廳、宋廳、李廳、汪廳、黃石(shi)山墻(qiang)(張(zhang)(zhang)大烈(lie)故居)、五(wu)房墻(qiang)門(明代建筑)等明清建筑,每一處(chu)古建筑緊(jin)連(lian)石(shi)板(ban)老(lao)街(jie),是(shi)石(shi)板(ban)老(lao)街(jie)上不(bu)可分割的組(zu)成部分,是(shi)老(lao)街(jie)的一個(ge)個(ge)古老(lao)典雅的音(yin)符,是(shi)一幅(fu)幅(fu)老(lao)街(jie)的古樸渾厚的畫卷。
長(chang)涇(jing)老街(jie)(jie),是(shi)歷史的積累(lei)和延伸;長(chang)涇(jing)老街(jie)(jie),是(shi)市鎮(zhen)商賈居民、名流賢(xian)達數百年(nian)來(lai)共(gong)同(tong)創(chuang)造(zao)的藝術杰作(zuo)。風(feng)雨滄桑,南街(jie)(jie)于1974年(nian)因拓(tuo)寬涇(jing)水河而(er)去舊易新,然而(er)北街(jie)(jie)面貌依舊,古(gu)(gu)韻(yun)古(gu)(gu)味,古(gu)(gu)風(feng)撲(pu)面,情韻(yun)動人(ren),今日修繕,煥發(fa)青(qing)春。